Alexander Bay, Northern Cape

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Alexander Bay (Afrikaans: Alexanderbaai) is a town in the extreme north-west of South Africa. It is located on the southern bank of the Orange River mouth. It was named for Sir James Alexander, who was the first person to map the area whilst on a Royal Geographical Society expedition into Namibia in 1836. (It is mistakenly believed by many locals that it was he who first established commercial copper mining in the area.) With diamonds being discovered along the West Coast in 1925, Alexander Bay was established to service the mining industry.

Previously, the town was a high-security area, with permits needed to enter; today, only a visitor's book is kept at the security checkpoint. Today it is a tourist destination, with access to the Richtersveld World Heritage Site as well as the Richtersveld National Park to its north.

The town of Oranjemund lies on the northern bank of the river, which forms the international border with Namibia.

	v • d • e Municipalities and Communities of Namakwa District Municipality, Northern Cape District Seat: Springbok
Local municipalities	Nama Khoi • Hantam • Khâi-Ma • Kamiesberg • Karoo Hoogland • Richtersveld • Namaqualand
Cities and towns	Springbok • Aggenys • Alexander Bay • Brandvlei • Calvinia • Concordia • Fraserburg • Garies • Hondeklip Bay • Kamieskroon • Kleinzee/Koingnaas • Leliefontein Area • Loeriesfontein • Nababeep • Nieuwoudtville • Okiep • Pella • Pofadder • Port Nolloth • Richtersveld Area • Steinkopf • Sutherland • Vioolsdrift • Williston